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FOIA Background

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552, as amended, is based on the principle of openness in government and generally provides that any person has a right, enforceable in court, of access to Federal agency records, except to the extent that such records (or portions thereof) are protected from disclosure by one of nine exemptions or by one of three special law enforcement record exclusions, as provided on the NOAA FOIA web site. Under the spirit and provisions of the FOIA, Federal agencies are to make their records available to the public to the greatest extent possible.

Process

The NIDIS portal is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in coordination with various other federal, state, local and tribal partners. As such, FOIA requests should be made according to directions outlined on the NOAA FOIA web site.

Contacts

Individuals with questions concerning their requests may call the NOAA FOIA Staff at (301) 713-3540, or by email at FOIA@noaa.gov.